What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally a combination of the verb 'au' (to meet) and the desire-expressing suffix '-tai' (want to).
Which one should you use?
The standard 会いたい focuses on the action of meeting rather than the feeling of longing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression can be adjusted depending on your relationship with the person. The polite form 会いたいです is suitable for someone you are not extremely close with, while お会いしたいです is a formal way to express the desire to meet someone. For casual situations, 会いたいな is used among friends and 会いたくてさ can be used with someone closer to you, such as a close friend or a family member.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 'yo' to the end of 会いたい, forming 会いたいよ, adds a sense of emphasis or emotionality, often used when expressing feelings to a close person.
Did you know?
- Because 会いたい is so direct, Japanese speakers often avoid saying it and instead use phrases like 元気？ ('Are you well?') to subtly signal that they have been thinking about someone.
- While 会いたい is common, the phrase 寂しい (sabishii), meaning 'lonely', is frequently used as a synonym for 'I miss you' to emphasize the void left by the other person's absence.
- If you are missing a place or a thing rather than a person, you cannot use 会いたい because it is strictly reserved for meeting living beings.
Examples in context
- 会いたいよ！I miss you!This example is useful for seeing how to express "I miss you" with emphasis using 会いたい.Tatoeba #13182085 by atitarev, translation #6055899 by sergiomelo
- Taroさんに本当に早く会いたいなI really want to meet Taro-san soon.
- 早く会いたい。Hayaku aitai.I want to see you soon.
- ずっと会いたいと思っている。Zutto aitai to omotte iru.I have been wanting to see you for a long time.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking on the phone.
- 結衣 Yui最近忙しいね。会いたい。saikin isogashii ne. aitai.You've been busy lately. I miss you.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕も結衣に会いたいよ。boku mo Yui ni aitai yo.I miss you too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui来週末は空いてる？raishūmatsu wa aiteru?Are you free next weekend?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、空いてるよ！un, aiteru yo!Yeah, I am!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
